Walking Frog Fish

I realize we haven't gotten to the fish section yet, however I thought this was a very interesting looking fish that could raise some possible evolutionary questions. Plus it just looks cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcN4nfcletU&feature=related

Giant Isopod Video

I posted the giant isopods eating Doritos on my FB profile page, and my brother-in-law wanted to get in on the act. He writes, "My own link to Bathynomus giganteus (or giant isopods)." Impressive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeOSXtBCY30

Other comments on FB:

I can hear my wife screaming already. Good night, those are huge.

Hmm. Wonder how they'd be boiled and dipped in butter... :D

Yikes!! Funny how their going for the bag of Doritos!
In Taiwan they are boiled and served with rice!

Earthworm Sex

We just talked about earthworm mating behavior on Monday in Zoology. Here's an impressive video of worms getting it on.

http://www.mcb.arizona.edu/wardlab/matingvid.html

Darwin and Change (Over Time)

I couldn't resist posting this one sent to me by another Zoology student...

Comic Strips on Evolution

Here's a link to more comic strips. This one is on evolution.

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2009/02/evolution-of-darwinian-evolution.html

Lizards Show Evolution in Action

We just talked about evolution as a change in population dynamics a few articles ago with nematodes and pesticides. Here is a GREAT video illustrating this point once again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoeIIZFApF4

Those lizards that have retained a juvenile behavioral trait of shaking off their ant attackers and skidatilling out of there will survive and reproduce, unlike their buddies that remain statuesque, hoping to camouflage themselves and hide from the ants, (which obviously turns out to be a bad strategy!)

Anyone know how to spell skidatilling?

More on the Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Hey,
I noticed the gorgeous picture of the peacock mantis shrimp posted on the blog and wanted to find out a little bit more about them. This website gives a brief overview of their behavior for anyone considering keeping one in their aquarium. They are not related to shrimp or the praying mantis, but are named Mantis Shrimp because of similar appearance and hunting behavior to the shrimp and praying mantis.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/msubpestmshrimp/a/aa110498.htm

My favorite informational tid-bit was this:

There are two hunting categories, the "spearers" and the "smashers". The "spearers" use their spear-like claw to silently stab soft tissued prey. The "smashers" use their forceful, club-like claw to hit, crack open or pulverize harder bodied prey. It is interesting that the power of the "smashers" appendage can produce a blow close to the power of a .22 caliber bullet and are notoriously known as "thumb splitters". It is rumored that because of the tremendous strength these animals have, they can crack aquarium glass. From a story about how a pet Mantis Shrimp broke 1/4 inch aquarium glass, that was posted in The Daily Mirror (a British Newspaper) on Friday, April 10, 1998, page 11, this documentation leads us to believe that this is possible.

Then there is a link from that website to a brief story of "Tyson" breaking the aquarium class.

Here's another website you can purchase them at ($43.99!!), along with a warning of their aquarium breaking capabilities:

http://www.paradisepetshop.net/en/peacock-mantis-shrimp.html

Nematodes Resistant to Pesticides (and Evolution)

Dr. Palmer
I found this article on worms building up pesticide resistance. I wonder if we are seeing evolution working at incredible speed, or an ability of the worms to protect themselves.

http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=2034

Here's my input: This phenomenon is not due to random mutations following the exposure to the pesticide, which the writers of this article are implying allows for these nematodes to survive. Rather, evolution is a population effect, or a change in the overall dynamics of the population. Those nematodes that did not have that special "je ne sais quoi" certainly died off, leaving a greater percentage of nematodes that were better equipped to survive and reproduce. Hopefully this helps.

The Grandest Arthropods

The images are attached since i've collected them over the years.

First we have what a superficial internet search has told me is the largest crustacean the coconut crab.



Then there is the amazing psychedelic mantis shrimp. Some people keep them in domestic aquariums because of the colors.



Next up, a lot of textbooks with sort of north american bias like to show sow bugs/rolly pollies/woodlice as an example of isopods. This makes them look really meek and pathetic. But in Taiwan they raise and eat these giant isoods. With a little research apparently these are the suborder Calabozoida

Students Helping Students Study for Lab Practical

As I was studying for the lab I found some sites that I thought might help the other students.

http://www.brookings.k12.sd.us/krscience/zoology/mollusks/sp06%20Clam%20Dissection.ppt

interactive worm dissection
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_14/BL_14.html

^crayfish dissection video (1 of 4) Related videos of this also include an earthworm, starfish, and clam. Essentially everything we need to know!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GQKy3nL7es&feature=related

Leeches and More Leeches (Subclass Hirudinea)

Dr. Palmer,

This video is incredible! It is a little gross, but it is a leech who has had a full blood meal and is actually excreting it on the floor of this man's home! It's a little tough to watch but is quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GyocYjPXbM&feature=related

This video I also found interesting, it shows a leech trying to penetrate itself into a carpet python. It fails, but is a great example of the snakes able to defend itself from the leech!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BTOZHX2FLo&feature=related

I seem to be finding leeches quite interesting tonight!!! If I find any more neat videos I will be certain to pass them along!

Medicinal Use of Leeches in India

I found this national geographic video about the uses of leeches in India for medicine, and might I say, I think I'll stick to modern, western, medical techniques!!!

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture-places/work/india_leechescure.html

To be honest, I'm amazed that so many people still allow the leech therapies to be preformed on them. It seems so barbaric, and I tend to wonder how well it really works? I would be afraid to let it happen! Do you know if the leeches could actually infect you if they, say, had had a blood meal from someone who had aids? I know that's an odd question - but I tend to think it's an odd practice!!!

Annelid Comic Strip

There's a funny web comic called Natalie Dee, and last month there was a special Annelid Week:

http://www.nataliedee.com/020509/annelid-week.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/020609/male-pore.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/020709/get-out-of-here-spider.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/020809/where-them-arms-come-from.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/020909/i-dunno-how-he-tied-that-cape.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/021009/why-is-that-rabbit-so-small.jpg
http://www.nataliedee.com/021109/true-love.jpg

Helpful Websites for Dissections

Here is an awesome link that lets you quiz yourself on the anatomy of a dissected clam

Clam

http://biog-101-104.bio.cornell.edu/biog101_104/tutorials/animals/clam.html

You can find almost all of the animals that we dissected in class online this way! Here are the links for the squid and crayfish.

Squid

http://biog-101-104.bio.cornell.edu/bioG101_104/tutorials/animals/squid.html

Crayfish

http://biog-101-104.bio.cornell.edu/bioG101_104/tutorials/animals/crayfish.html

If you google "Cornell University Dissections _______" (fill in the blank with the animal you want) the website will come up. It's a good way to quiz yourself outside of the lab with a real photo. I read that some schools provide these to students who object to actual dissections.

Giant Tubeworms (Polychaetes)

After class on Friday I was talking to one of your fellow classmates about these giant tubeworms that are located close the Galapagos Islands near volcanos and hydrothermal vents. Their environment seems truly inhospitable. "These worms live in pitch-black ocean depths in water laced with acid and toxic gas—harsh conditions that may resemble those in which life first evolved. Scientists want to decode the tubeworms' survival skills." Here's an articles from natgeo that gives a little more information.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1028_021028_TVtubeworm.html

Here's a link to video of this creature:

http://www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/level-1/creature/tube3.mov

Macropinna microstoma - Strange Fish!

Found this article about a weird looking fish.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2271861.ece

Heres another cool video about a fish with a transparent head...

Dr. Palmer,

I couldn't help myself, I got looking around at natgeo and I found this crazy looking fish!!!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090224-fish-video-vin.html

Here's video of this fish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoygy-8PTtU

Cool Pink Dolphin

Hey,

Check out this pink dolphin!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4927224/Pink-dolphin-appears-in-US-lake.html

Hopefully the octopuses, as well as the tourists/dolphin lookers leave it alone! It's beautiful what a genetic mutation can do.

Zoology Student Takes Photos of Polychaetes in Florida Keys... and Misc.

Here is a site with a lot of good information and some pictures of christmas tree worms in the Class Polychaeta.

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=543

I also took some pictures of some of them down in the Florida keys here are a couple if they work.

This is a documentary about the Sumbolt squid also known as Diablo Rojo which has razor sharp teeth lining every suction cup and have been known to become aggressive and even attack divers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3IRWZSDos

Octopus Escapes through a One-inch Hole

Hey!

Here is a link of an Octopus escaping out of a one-inch hole. It's like a magic trick - their bodies are too cool.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4007016107763801953&q=octopus

Japan Mountain Leech vs. Giant Earthworm

I found this video of some kind of leech eating an earthworm, voice-over isn't the greatest, but the topic is interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpv9P1KOVMQ&feature=PlayList&p=421A64E287FF499B&index=0&playnext=1